MANNHEIM, Germany, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Optimism that the worst of the euro crisis may be over and rock-bottom interest rates at home fuelled a sharp rise in German analyst and investor sentiment in February, an economist for the Mannheim-based ZEW institute said on Tuesday.

'There are two main reasons that caused the increase - one is the slowdown of the euro crisis. Many people in the capital markets now believe the worst is over,' said Michael Schroeder.

'We also have the lowest interest rates ever seen in the last decade, and together with the opinion about the crisis, this works as a stimulus for economic growth in Germany and in Europe.'

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan and Sakari Suoninen; Writing by Noah Barkin) Keywords: GERMANY ZEW/EUROCRISIS

(noah.barkin@thomsonreuters.com; +49 (0) 30 2888 5091; Reuters Messaging: noah.barkin.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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